US Stock Market Live Updates: Energy Stocks Drop Amid Iran Peace Expectations, Melrose Shares Tumble After California Incident

Pop star Kesha has sold her ultramodern Los Angeles mansion for $6.7 million, two years after listing the property. The deal marks the end of a prolonged selling period for the architecturally distinctive home, reflecting sustained interest in high-end L.A. real estate tied to celebrity ownership. The sale underscores demand dynamics in the luxury housing market amid ongoing changes in lifestyle preferences.

Shares of oil giants BP and Shell slid as Brent crude oil prices dropped from $107 to below $96 a barrel amid optimism over talks to end the US-Israel conflict with Iran. BP shares fell 1.3% to 544.4p, while Shell declined 1.1% to 3,173.5p. The recent 48-day ceasefire and ongoing negotiations in Qatar have boosted market hopes for de-escalation. However, US strikes on southern Iran have kept tensions elevated. Deutsche Bank analysts noted growing optimism that the conflict may be nearing an end, though the oil majors’ earnings momentum could weaken if crude prices remain under pressure.